ANATOMY TABLES | VEINS OF THE HEAD AND NECK

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Selected Veins of the Head and Neck - Listed Alphabetically

Vein angular v. Tributaries supraorbital v., supratrochlear v. Drains Into facial vein at the inferior margin of the orbit external jugular v. it unites with the posterior division of the retromandibular v. to form the external jugular internal vertebral venous plexus the left and right brachiocephalic vv. unite to form the superior vena cava Regions Drained forehead; upper eyelid; root of the nose superficial parts of the anterior neck region behind the ear Notes angular v. is valveless; it connects with the superior and inferior ophthalmic vv. and can be a source of superficial infectious materials entering the cavernous sinus by this route anterior jugular v. is valveless posterior auricular v. communicates with the occipital v. behind the ear

anterior jugular v. auricular, posterior

submental v, communicating v. small veins of the subcutaneous tissues behind the ear, stylomastoid v.

basilar venous plexus brachiocephalic v.

superior and inferior petrosal sinuses

cavernous sinus

basilar venous plexus is variable; it communicates connects with other small intracranial sinuses that are located nearby

formed by the union of the subclavian v. and the internal jugular v.; tributaries: vertebral v., thymic v., inferior thyroid v., internal thoracic v., 1st posterior intercostal v., left superior intercostal v. (to the left brachiocephalic v.) superior ophthalmic v., cerebral vv., sphenoparietal sinus

head; neck; upper at its origin, the left brachiocephalic v. receives limb; anterior chest the thoracic duct; at its origin, the right wall brachiocephalic v. receives the right lymphatic duct

cavernous sinus

superior petrosal sinus, inferior petrosal sinus

orbit, brain

cavernous sinus lies between the cranial and meningeal layers of the dura mater beside the body of the sphenoid bone; cranial nn. III, IV and V1 are in its lateral wall; the internal carotid a. and cranial n. VI are in its lumen great cerebral v. is a very short vessel

cerebral, great

formed by the union of the paired internal cerebral vv.

straight sinus

deep portions of the cerebrum

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cerebral, inferior

tributaries are unnamed

cavernous sinus, transverse sinus, superior petrosal sinus superior sagittal sinus

inferior aspect of the cerebral hemispheres superior aspect of the cerebral hemispheres face and anterior scalp all parts of the brain

inferior cerebral vv. are numerous

cerebral, superior tributaries are unnamed

superior cerebral vv. bleed into the subdural space when injured, resulting in a subdural hematoma; also known as: bridging vv. common facial v. may receive drainage from the lingual v. confluens of sinuses lies on the inner surface of the occipital bone; it is between the layers of dura at the junction of the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli deep facial v. is valveless

common facial

formed by the union of the anterior internal jugular v. division of the retromandibular v. and the facial v. formed by the joining of the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus and occipital sinus facial v. multiple veins draining the diploe of the skull: frontal diploic, anterior temporal diploic, posterior temporal diploic, occipital diploic veins of the scalp transverse sinuses

confluens of sinuses

deep facial v. diploic vv.

pterygoid venous plexus meningeal vv.; dural venous sinuses; veins of the scalp veins of the scalp; dural venous sinuses

face

bones of the cranial diploic vv. connect the venous system of the vault scalp with the dural sinuses and meningeal vv.

emissary vv.

scalp

emissary vv. are valveless and can carry blood from superficial to deep or in the reverse direction depending on blood pressure; may carry superficial infectious materials into the dural venous sinuses; there are 4 named emissary vv.: parietal, mastoid, occipital and condyloid; superior ophthalmic v. also acts as an emissary v. external jugular v. contains valves that may not be fully functional

external jugular v.

formed by the joining of the retromandibular and posterior auricular vv.; tributaries: posterior external jugular

subclavian v.

head & neck, shoulder

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v., transverse cervical v., suprascapular v., anterior jugular v. facial, deep facial, common facial v. pterygoid venous plexus face face and anterior scalp inferior portion of the orbit deep facial v. is valveless common facial v. may receive drainage from the lingual v. valveless; inferior ophthalmic v. connects with the pterygoid plexus through the inferior orbital fissure

formed by the union of the anterior internal jugular v. division of the retromandibular v. and the facial v. ciliary vv., veins from the muscles of the inferior part of the orbit cavernous sinus superior ophthalmic v.

inferior ophthalmic v. inferior petrosal sinus

sigmoid sinus, at its distal end

all regions drained inferior petrosal sinus lies within the dura mater by the cavernous along the inferior portion of the petrous part of sinus, including the the temporal bone orbit and brain medial surfaces fo the cerebral hemispheres inferior part of the thyroid gland brain, cranial cavity, skull, face, viscera of the neck inferior sagittal sinus is directly superior to the corpus callosum in the free margin of falx cerebri inferior thyroid vv. descend on the anterior surface of the trachea internal jugular is the largest vein of the nead and neck

inferior sagittal sinus

unnamed tributaries from the falx cerebri and cerebral hemispheres

unites with the great cerebral v. to form the straight sinus left and right brachiocephalic vv.

inferior thyroid v. numerous tributaries from the thyroid gland, esophageal v, tracheal v., inferior laryngeal v.

internal jugular v. formed at the base of the skull where the brachiocephalic v. sigmoid sinus ends; tributaries: pharyngeal vv.; lingual v., common facial v., sternocleidomastoid v., superior thyroid v, middle thyroid v. jugular, anterior jugular, external submental v, communicating v. formed by the joining of the retromandibular and posterior auricular external jugular v. subclavian v.

superficial parts of the anterior neck head & neck, shoulder

anterior jugular v. is valveless external jugular v. contains valves that may not be fully functional

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vv.; tributaries: posterior external jugular v., transverse cervical v., suprascapular v., anterior jugular v. jugular, internal formed at the base of the skull where the brachiocephalic v. sigmoid sinus ends; tributaries: pharyngeal vv.; lingual v., common facial v., sternocleidomastoid v., superior thyroid v, middle thyroid v. unnamed veins of the occipital region and superior neck numerous tributaries from the thyroid gland no named tributaries ciliary vv., veins from the muscles of the inferior part of the orbit external jugular v. brain, cranial cavity, skull, face, viscera of the neck internal jugular is the largest vein of the nead and neck

jugular, posterior external middle thyroid v. occipital sinus ophthalmic, inferior ophthalmic, superior

superficial parts of the posterior head and neck

posterior external jugular v. may join the external jugular v. at a variable level

internal jugular v. confluens of sinuses superior ophthalmic v.

lateral aspect of the middle thyroid v. crosses superficial to the thyroid gland common carotid a. cerebellum inferior portion of the orbit lies within the dura mater at the base of the falx cerebelli valveless; inferior ophthalmic v. connects with the pterygoid plexus through the inferior orbital fissure

nasofrontal v., anterior ethmoidal v., cavernous sinus posterior ethmoidal v., ciliary vv., central retinal v., lacrimal v., inferior ophthalmic v. cavernous sinus sigmoid sinus, at its distal end

eyeball, superior valveless; superior ophthalmic v. communicates portion of the orbit, with the angular v. ethmoidal air cells, forehead all regions drained inferior petrosal sinus lies within the dura mater by the cavernous along the inferior portion of the petrous part of sinus, including the the temporal bone orbit and brain all regions drained superior petrosal sinus lies on the petrous ridge by the cavernous within the dura mater at the line of attachment sinus, including the of the tentorium cerebelli orbit and brain

petrosal sinus, inferior

petrosal sinus, superior

cavernous sinus

sigmoid sinus, at its proximal end

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pharyngeal venous plexus plexus, basilar venous plexus, pharyngeal venous plexus, pterygoid venous

unnamed tributaries that drain the pharyngeal wall superior and inferior petrosal sinuses

internal jugular internal vertebral venous plexus internal jugular

pharynx cavernous sinus

connects with the pterygoid venous plexus basilar venous plexus is variable; it communicates connects with other small intracranial sinuses that are located nearby connects with the pterygoid venous plexus

unnamed tributaries that drain the pharyngeal wall

pharynx

descending palatine v., sphenopalatine v., maxillary v. infraorbital v., posterior superior alveolar v., anterior deep temporal v., posterior deep temporal v., middle meningeal v., masseteric v., inferior alveolar v. intervertebral vv.

meninges, nasal valveless; the pterygoid plexus is connected cavity, with the cavernous sinus and the pharyngeal infratemporal fossa venous plexus

plexus, vertebral venous, external plexus, vertebral venous, internal posterior auricular v.

adjacent segmental vv.; vertebral column vertebral v. in the and associated cervical region muscles adjacent segmental vv.

two plexuses are described: anterior and posterior; connects with the internal vertebral venous plexus

anterior and posterior longitudinal vertebral sinuses small veins of the subcutaneous tissues behind the ear, stylomastoid v.

spinal cord, connects with the external vertebral venous meninges, vertebral plexuses; valveless; a route for potential spread column of metastases from the pelvis to the brain region behind the ear posterior auricular v. communicates with the occipital v. behind the ear

it unites with the posterior division of the retromandibular v. to form the external jugular external jugular v.

posterior external unnamed veins of the occipital region jugular v. and superior neck retromandibular v. formed by the union of the superficial temporal v. and maxillary v.

superficial parts of the posterior head and neck side of the head and scalp; deep face

posterior external jugular v. may join the external jugular v. at a variable level retromandibular v. is contained within the parotid gland; anterior division unites with the facial v. to form the common facial v.; posterior

anterior and posterior divisions of the retromandibular v.

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division unites with the posterior auricular v. to form the external jugular v. sigmoid sinus sinus, cavernous transverse sinus, superior petrosal sinus superior ophthalmic v., cerebral vv., sphenoparietal sinus internal jugular v. superior petrosal sinus, inferior petrosal sinus brain; meninges orbit, brain sigmoid sinus lies within the sigmoid groove covered by dura mater cavernous sinus lies between the cranial and meningeal layers of the dura mater beside the body of the sphenoid bone; cranial nn. III, IV and V1 are in its lateral wall; the internal carotid a. and cranial n. VI are in its lumen

sinus, inferior petrosal

cavernous sinus

sigmoid sinus, at its distal end

all regions drained inferior petrosal sinus lies within the dura mater by the cavernous along the inferior portion of the petrous part of sinus, including the the temporal bone orbit and brain medial surfaces fo the cerebral hemispheres cerebellum brain; meninges deep parts of the cerebrum, cerebellum inferior sagittal sinus is directly superior to the corpus callosum in the free margin of falx cerebri lies within the dura mater at the base of the falx cerebelli sigmoid sinus lies within the sigmoid groove covered by dura mater straight sinus lies within the junction of the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli; also known as: sinus rectus

sinus, inferior sagittal sinus, occipital sinus, sigmoid sinus, straight

unnamed tributaries from the falx cerebri and cerebral hemispheres no named tributaries transverse sinus, superior petrosal sinus

unites with the great cerebral v. to form the straight sinus confluens of sinuses internal jugular v.

inferior sagittal sinus, great cerebral vein, confluens of sinuses superior cerebellar vv. cavernous sinus sigmoid sinus, at its proximal end

sinus, superior petrosal

all regions drained superior petrosal sinus lies on the petrous ridge by the cavernous within the dura mater at the line of attachment sinus, including the of the tentorium cerebelli orbit and brain cerebral hemispheres superior sagittal sinus occupies the superior part of the falx cerebri; lateral lacunae receive

sinus, superior sagittal

v. of the foramen cecum; superior cerebral vv.

confluens of sinuses

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grossly visible arachnoid granulations sinus, transverse confluens of sinuses, inferior cerebral vv. sigmoid sinus brain lies within the line of attachment of the tentorium cerebelli to the inner surface of the calvaria confluens of sinuses lies on the inner surface of the occipital bone; it is between the layers of dura at the junction of the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli straight sinus lies within the junction of the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli; also known as: sinus rectus

sinuses, confluens of

formed by the joining of the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus and occipital sinus

transverse sinuses

all parts of the brain

straight sinus

inferior sagittal sinus, great cerebral vein, confluens of sinuses superior cerebellar vv. nasofrontal v., anterior ethmoidal v., cavernous sinus posterior ethmoidal v., ciliary vv., central retinal v., lacrimal v., inferior ophthalmic v. cavernous sinus sigmoid sinus, at its proximal end

deep parts of the cerebrum, cerebellum

superior ophthalmic v.

eyeball, superior valveless; superior ophthalmic v. communicates portion of the orbit, with the angular v. ethmoidal air cells, forehead all regions drained superior petrosal sinus lies on the petrous ridge by the cavernous within the dura mater at the line of attachment sinus, including the of the tentorium cerebelli orbit and brain cerebral hemispheres
inferior part of the thyroid gland lateral aspect of the thyroid gland
superior portion of the thyroid gland and surrounding structures

superior petrosal sinus

superior sagittal sinus

thyroid, inferior

v. of the foramen cecum; superior cerebral vv.

numerous tributaries from the thyroid gland, esophageal v, tracheal v., inferior laryngeal v. numerous tributaries from the thyroid gland sternocleidomastoid v., superior laryngeal v., infrahyoid v., cricothyroid v.

confluens of sinuses

superior sagittal sinus occupies the superior part of the falx cerebri; lateral lacunae receive grossly visible arachnoid granulations
inferior thyroid vv. descend on the anterior surface of the trachea middle thyroid v. crosses superficial to the common carotid a. superior thyroid v. is the only thyroid v. to accompany an artery; it crosses superficial to the common carotid a.

left and right brachiocephalic vv. internal jugular v.

thyroid, middle

thyroid, superior

internal jugular v.

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thyroidea ima v. transverse sinus

formed by a high union of the right and left inferior thyroid vv.

left brachiocephalic vein

inferior part of the thyroid gland brain

an occasional branch; a midline structure which is in danger during tracheostomy lies within the line of attachment of the tentorium cerebelli to the inner surface of the calvaria vena comitans nervi hypoglossi accompanies CN XII two plexuses are described: anterior and posterior; connects with the internal vertebral venous plexus

confluens of sinuses, inferior cerebral vv. sigmoid sinus

vena comitans nervi hypoglossi vertebral venous plexus, external vertebral venous plexus, internal

no named tributaries intervertebral vv.

lingual v.

tongue

adjacent segmental vv.; vertebral column vertebral v. in the and associated cervical region muscles adjacent segmental vv.

anterior and posterior longitudinal vertebral sinuses

spinal cord, connects with the external vertebral venous meninges, vertebral plexuses; valveless; a route for potential spread column of metastases from the pelvis to the brain